Of water cuts, thirsty residents and bathing �seJohane�

Keletso Thobega | Tuesday August 18, 2015 12:38

Apparently residents of villages that lie by the North West province of that country, like Mabule village, border post sneak into neighbouring South Africa to beg for or steal water from nearby homesteads. One chief apparently even threatened to have them arrested. This is not only embarrassing to our country, but also reflects how dire the water situation here is. 

But it seems are woes are far from over… 

Water Utilities yesterday issued an announcement that there would be water cuts in Gaborone and surrounding areas for the next few days. I’m holding my breath because in my neighbourhood and nearby areas (Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 4, Block 5 and Block 6) there is still water but the Jojos and water containers are out just in case we arrive home to dry taps. 

It is embarrassing that a rich country like ours (with a small population nogal) has failed to manage its water resources.

Water shortage is not unique to Botswana but is a problem besieging the whole world. Some researchers predict that in the next decade or so, water will be so scarce a resource that some people will fight for it. I once wrote a feature article on the depleting water resources. During my research, I finally realised how grim the water situation actually is. It’s worse here because we are a landlocked country.  

In Botswana, when we finally awakened to the reality that water would be hard to come by in our landlocked country, we constructed dams and boreholes with hopes to supplement water for Batswana. But it has been proven that the issue here is not the weather, but poor planning.

We have always had bad weather and many reports alluded to the fact that Botswana would soon be facing water shortages but no action was taken. 

At this juncture, Batswana aren’t angry with government over the water situation because it’s not raining (we all know that dear Minister Mokaila is not a magician) but rather because there was no foresight and planning to deal with the water deficit. Now we are paying a high price – constant and random water cuts! 

Coming from a modest background and being raised in a township, I enjoyed simple basics from a young age, which could be perceived as little luxuries, like a shiny bathtub and indoor water. Water was not a problem until recently... 

In Setswana, there’s a saying that loso legolo ke setshego.

Let me tell you something that happened to me recently. Before my shower, I usually lather myself with soap and an assortment of body gels before getting into the shower. On this particular occasion, I did the usual routine, but when I stepped into the shower and turned on the tap on, a few drops spluttered. I turned it again. Nothing! I stepped out, and tried the other taps. Nothing. No water! I tied a towel around myself and scurried around the house looking for water, even taking water from the fridge just so that I could have enough to bathe ‘se Johane’. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh, but I chose the latter. 

Those of you who grew up in villages or in houses without bathtubs probably understand bathing se-Johane. If you are “posh”, and wondering what bathing se-Johane is, let me explain. You take a basin, fill it with lukewarm water and then your bath begins. First you lather the washing cloth with soap and then scrub your face, rinse the washcloth and wipe. You then continue the same way on other “parts” like the armpits, crotch and groin (which are scrubbed vigorously), and then wipe the rest of the body.

Of course it’s not really bathing but improvising.

In the past, bathing seJohane was a choice but nowadays babble baths and bathing three times a day are slowy becoming a luxury! 

Since its summer again, the situation is bound to be a stink (pardon the pun). So next time you are in a bank or store queue or seated next to someone and your nose tingles to a weird smell that is a horrid mix between a dead rat and pilchards, or “hot wings” (smelly armpits) hold your breathe and count up to ten because chances are they took an improvised bath. Don’t blame them, but the water situation. Go tlhapiwa seJohane. Boasaboapele!